300 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



to widely-separated periods, we find now and then promulga- 

 ted among all these contradictions a particular biography of 

 some certain species or individual that seems to constitute a 

 perfect delineation or monograph, which so far as immediate 

 science has progressed, cannot be for the time transcended. 

 Thus it is with Alexander Wilson's description of this Fish- 

 Hawk. Taking it apart, this biography constitutes one of the 

 noblest features of his whole life-work, though so mingled as 

 it is with his story of the White-headed Eagle, it yet so fully 

 expresses the characteristics of both, that we must give a 

 scene entire, which has been most universally admired. It 

 is that of the eagle robbing the Fish -Hawk ! and is from his 

 paper on the White-headed Eagle : 



" Elevated on the high dead limb of some gigantic tree 

 that commands a wide view of the neighboring shore and 

 ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the 

 various feathered tribes, that pursue their busy avocations be- 

 low ; the snow-white gulls slowly winnowing the air ; the 

 busy tringas coursing along the sands ; trains of ducks 

 streaming over the surface silent and watchful cranes intent 

 and wading ; clamorous crows, and all the winged multitudes 

 that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of 

 nature. High over all these hovers one, whose action in- 

 stantly arrests his whole attention. By his wide curvature 

 of wing, and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be 

 the Fish-Hawk, settling over some devoted victim of the 

 deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and, balancing himself 

 with half-opened wings on the branch, he watches the result. 

 Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant 

 object of his attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear 

 as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around. 

 At this moment the eager looks of the eagle are all ardor ; 

 and levelling his neck for flight, he sees the Fish-Hawk once 

 more emerge, struggling with his prey, and mounting in the 

 air with screams of exultation. These are the signals for our 

 hero, who launching into the air, instantly gives chase, and 



